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11:50 AM ET, February 20, 2026

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 Top News: 
CNBC:
James Cameron blasts Netflix's proposed acquisition of WBD, in a letter to Senator Mike Lee, calling it “disastrous for the theatrical motion picture business”  —  Legendary “Titanic” director James Cameron is likening the theatrical experience to a “sinking ship” if Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery's film studio.
RELATED:
Bloomberg:
Ted Sarandos says a winning Netflix bid for WBD would lead to more films in theaters because Netflix would distribute its films via WBD's distribution system
Marina Adami / Nieman Lab:
Editors and freelance journalists say AI has brought more productivity, increased expectations of speed, a need for more vetting, and sometimes job-loss fears  —  One freelancer said he's been offering editors access to his Google Docs version histories as evidence that he does the writing himself.
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
Substack announces new tools to help writers use Polymarket data and adds Polymarket to its sponsorship pilot, prompting questions from some journalists  —  Predictions market Polymarket and Substack are now “exclusive,” the companies announced.  And the relationship getting serious is raising a few eyebrows.
James Hibberd / The Hollywood Reporter:
After a backlash, AMC opts out of screening an AI short film during its pre-show, programmed by ad company Screenvision, before feature films  —  AMC has opted out of screening the award-winning short film during its third-party programmed pre-show, and it's unclear if other chains will follow suit.
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
Only 11 out of 131 ABC-audited UK magazines grew their actively purchased print sales in 2025, including Harper's Bazaar, The Spectator, and The Week Junior  —  Full breakdown of UK print magazine sales risers and fallers in 2025.  —  Only 11 UK magazines grew their actively-purchased print sales in 2025 …
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Source: Axel Springer joins a group led by Dovid Efune that is making a ~£500M fully funded bid for the Telegraph, should DMGT's deal fail regulatory hurdles  —  New York Sun owner's £500mn offer promises more cash upfront if DMGT fails regulatory hurdles
Discussion: The Wrap
Maxwell Zeff / Wired:
Perplexity's retreat from ads signals a strategic shift as it recognizes its product is not for a mass audience and expects growth to come from enterprise sales  —  The AI search startup once predicted advertising would be a massive business.  Now it's betting on a smaller, more valuable audience.
Selome Hailu / Variety:
Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet discuss AI's potential to replace actors and win awards; McConaughey said AI actors will “infiltrate” the Oscars  —  Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet are telling young people to brace themselves and lead the entertainment industry through the rise of AI.
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
A look at The Sun's video strategy, which includes a shift to longform news and sponsored lifestyle content; it has 6.4M YouTube subscribers on its main channel  —  The Sun has grown its video operation “even more aggressively” than planned in the past year.
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The UK CMA says Getty and Shutterstock's $3.7B merger could lead to a “substantial lessening of competition” in the UK editorial market for news events  —  The $3.7bn merger of rival image providers Getty and Shutterstock could lead to a “substantial lessening of competition” …
Anhata Rooprai / Reuters:
Apple TV has signed a distribution deal with EverPass Media to bring live sports content to US businesses such as bars, restaurants, hotels, and gyms  —  Apple TV (AAPL.O) has signed a distribution agreement with EverPass Media to bring the streamer's live sports content to businesses such as bars …
 
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 More News: 
Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
Imax partners with Apple TV to show five 2026 Formula One races across at least 50 US Imax locations, as Imax continues to push into live events
 Earlier Picks: 
Deutsche Welle:
Germany public broadcaster Deutsche Welle's 2026 budget shrinks by €21M, prompting the closure of its Greek-language service, cuts to 160 positions, and more
Michael Lynton / Wall Street Journal:
Book extract: ex-Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton recounts how greenlighting The Interview sparked North Korea's massive 2014 cyberattack
Julianna Bragg / Axios:
Stephen Colbert's interview on YouTube with US Senate candidate James Talarico draws 7M+ views after it was posted on Monday, bypassing TV restrictions
 

 
From Techmeme:

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Meta unveils Meta Adventurer and Fury glasses, each priced at $299, its first under its own brand, and a $399 Starfire model in collaboration with Kylie Jenner

New York Times:
Sources: Meta is building a standalone prediction markets app called Arena, which would probably rely on video game-like points instead of money wagers

Brian Krebs / Krebs on Security:
On the first day of their trial, two members of Scattered Spider plead guilty in the UK to charges stemming from a 2024 cyberattack on Transport for London
 
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